Pakistan set to execute 55 of 500 death-row militants

Islamabad: Pakistan is preparing to execute at least 55 more death-row terrorists among the 500 condemned militants after their mercy appeals were rejected following the end of a 2008 moratorium on death penalty.

An official of Interior Ministry said that President Manmoon Hussain rejected the mercy appeals of 55 militants, paving way for issuance of black warrants by the ministry.

Several mercy appeals were pending since 2012 as former president Asif Zardari refused to take any action due to moratorium on executions.

Interior Minister Nisar Ali Khan said that more than 500 militants who have been awarded death sentence by courts were in the line of execution after the government lifted a ban on the death penalty following the Peshawar school massacre in which 148 people, mostly children, were killed.

He said the country is prepared to face any reaction from the militants due to hanging of their comrades.

Four death-row terrorists were executed on Sunday for attacking former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf 11 years back, taking the number of hanged prisoners to six.

Right groups have criticised Pakistan for reinstating the death penalty.